Funding

The Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) is registered under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act. It was created in 2005 and received a $30 million endowment from the Government of Canada to complete up to five assessments, per year, over a 10-year period. In 2015, this commitment was renewed with an additional $15 million over five years to complete up to four assessments per year.

Conditions on the use of these funds, including the CCA’s arms-length status, are set out in a formal funding agreement between the CCA and the Government of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED). In return for this funding, the CCA conducts up to four assessments each year for the Government of Canada on topics proposed to the Minister of Science by various government departments and agencies.

The CCA also conducts assessments outside of the federal government agreement. These assessments are referred to the CCA by non-profits, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, or provincial and municipal governments. All assessment questions and the final reports, regardless of source, must be approved by the CCA’s Board of Governors.